Agents receive awards for service, projects at 4-H convention

The Louisiana Association of Extension 4-H Agents presented several awards recognizing members’ service and projects during its annual convention held Aug. 24-26 at the LSU AgCenter Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center in Pollock.

Gwen Taylor Fontenot, of Natchitoches Parish, received an Excellence in 4-H Volunteerism award. She also received Communicator Awards in the personal column, published photo and video program categories.

A Communicator Award for an educational package was presented to a team including Lauren Edwards, of Morehouse Parish; Laura Brumbaugh, of St. Martin Parish; Kim Jones, from the state office; Amy Long-Pierre, of St. Tammany Parish; Mark Carriere, of Pointe Coupee Parish; and Elliott Scroggs, of West Baton Rouge Parish.
Another team won a Communicator Award for an educational piece. They are Veronica Del Bianco, of the state office; Lola Boone, of Caddo Parish; Gwen Taylor Fontenot, of Natchitoches Parish; Lois Brister, of Rapides Parish; Leslie Moran, of the state office; Olivia Picard, of St. Tammany Parish; and Ana Iverson, of the AgCenter communications department.

Three agents who have worked for the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H Youth Development program for three to seven years received Achievement in Service Awards. They are Daniel Morton, of DeSoto Parish; Christina Zito Hebert, of Iberville Parish; and Nan Arthur, of Sabine Parish.

Distinguished Service Awards recognizing association members who have served more than seven years went to Esther Boe, of Avoyelles Parish; Adriana Drusini, of St. Mary Parish; and Kali Zammit, of St. Charles Parish.

Karen Martin, regional 4-H coordinator for northwest Louisiana, was presented a Meritorious Service Award, which is given to a previous Distinguished Service Award winner selected by others who have received that award.

Awards recognizing members for various years of service went to Leslie Moran, an extension associate in the state 4-H office, for five years; Kori Myers, an agent in St. Martin Parish, for 10 years; and St. Tammany Parish’s Amy Long-Pierre and Ouachita Parish’s Markaye Russell for 15 years.

Awards for 25 years of service went to Terri Crawford, regional 4-H coordinator for northeast Louisiana; Tina Goebel, regional 4-H coordinator for central Louisiana; Michael Lavergne, an agent in Beauregard Parish; and Hilton Waits, an agent in Vermilion Parish.

Those who received service awards will also be recognized at the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents conference, which will be Oct. 9-13 in New Orleans.

Other awards presented at the state convention include the Arton-Granger Award, which went to Iberia Parish agent Christy Oliver.